2023
Storytelling though Data: Where on earth?
Data Visualization & Visual Storytelling
Skills
Sketching, Data Visualization, Concept Development, Research
Tools
Adobe Illustrator, Tableau
Goal
Create an information graphic that tells a story about a city important to you using data visualization. The data graphics should work together to communicate the story or message in a clear, truthful, and authentic manner.
Project Overview
For my project topic, I chose to focus on Balanga, Philippines which is a city that continues to experience rapid development and provides many opportunities to those who live in neighbouring municipalities. The infographic poster highlights the growth and economic development of Balanga through data visualizations touching on education, employment, and public services. The process of this project included concept development, research, synthesis, sketching data visualizations, and peer critique sessions.
Process
Brainstorming & Sketching
After some initial research and brainstorming to help me choose what topic I wanted to focus on, I started brainstorming what story I wanted to tell and what data would help illustrate Balanga’s growth.
This shaped my desk research and interviews with family members regarding the city. In my developing understanding of the city and gathering of qualitative and quantitative data, I was then able to sketch out some data visualizations and get in-class feedback.
Final Poster
After a couple rounds of in-class feedback and sketching out data graphics on paper, I digitized the sketches and used Tableau for the quantitative data collected to help accurately represent the information in the poster. Below displays the final Where on Earth? Poster.
Data Infographic Breakdown
Services and Institutions Illustrative Diagram
To introduce Balanga, this illustrative diagram provides context to what the city looks like today in regard to its different services and institutions.
Student Migration Flow Map
This flow diagram illustrates the student migration the city experiences as many university students come from neighbouring municipalities within the province.
Student Enrolment in post-secondary Institutions Bubble Chart
This bubble chart highlights the variety of universities and number of students studying in the city’s public and private post-secondary institutions.
Working Population Radar chart
This radar chart displays Balanga’s working population throughout different industries in 2015 with a large spike in service and sales workers which correlates to the rapid development of the city.
History & journey towards urbanization Timeline
This timeline touches on the events that shaped the Philippines history and in turn Balanga’s journey to urbanization.
